Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1887-12-21

sne lOOkeu bChTcu III suiu snc uiuu
know, she'd been discharged an no
one knew where she'd gone.
/ was mighty sorry at that, for I'd
admired that plucky dousin', in spite
O. the bit o temper. Well, l said
goodbye to the second girl an travel
ed back to my cart.
For more than two months / tangled
round on my tin cart. maxim good
bargains an swellin' my bank account
a few dollars each week. / always
was of a thrifty turn, an it came easy
to lay by somcthin', so / do not speak
of it to make credit, only as fact.
l thought lots about the washin' day
an wondered what the two women
he'd said when the young torment he'd
told his ma. always smiled when ]
thought on it, because l was pretty
sure the mistress didn't get the best
of it in words anyhow. An some
how, between you and me, mistresses
could have a deal O plain speakin'
done to EN- without having havin'
more'n their share.
But one afternoon | drove into a
farmyard an come near runnin' smash
into another tin pedlder establish
ment that had got there ahead of me.
With due respect fer the feller's
rights, l was preparin' to turn around
an git out, when heard voice that
somehow seemed familiar:
you're a swindler," it was sayin'
"an' you know it! The bottom of
that kittle is just the poorest kind O
stuff, an the nose has come off an
been fastened on again. don't want
to trade with you, an / won't, so you
may as well 60"
"It's my little washtub beauty"
says ] to myself, wonderful glad, an
80 it was. She followed the man, a
meachin', cross-eyed chap. to the door,
an l could see she was almost as
angry as she was on the first mornin'
I'd seen her. She wasn't so pretty
this time either, for she he'd towel
around her head, an a faded out cali
CO dress, an boots that was out at the
toes but somehow my heart gave a
thump an / was down off'n my wag'
gin in no time.
"May be kin trade with you," ]
says, more jerky than ever spoke
before.
well, play be you can" she says,
eyein' me. | knew she was trying to
place me, but couldn't. | wanted to
help her, but somehow couldn't find
the words. could only bring out
my hest kittles and knock off half the
regular price, on the ground that ]
wanted to dispose of 'em quick, SOS to
lay in new and improved stock.
l was longin' to know if this wa:
her home, but couldn't think O. nc
way to find out without askin' in &c
many words, an that hadn't the
courage to do.
She handled the things carefully
but all of sudden, when ! thought
she was examinin' the nose of my
biggest teakettle, she spoke up quick
and sharp.
II know where I've seen you," sht
said. ut was when / doused thai
Charley Cranky. May be you dom
remember. since you didn't lose YOU
temper and place; but losin' your
place makes you remember"
Somehow them words made mt
light-headed she'd remembered me.
81 recollect," said I, fast as ever
could for the fit that seized my tongue
IAN | wanted to shake hands with
you. He deserved all you gave, thu
varmint."
She smiled little, and sighed, too
ut lost me my place, of course,
, she went on, takin' up a bread-par
an turnin' it over. / amt he'd tn,
heart to look up another one yet, Sc
here / am at home, a-scoldin' on,
peddler an tellin' my affairs to anoth
; err. You must have pretty poo
opinion of me, an mo wonder"
She ended with little laugh, anc
said she guessed they'd take the bread
pan an the smaller kettle.
"Do you calkerate to stay round
home all summer" / asked, hating
myself because my face was getting
red us fire.
She answered back,quite fierce
IL shall stay till | can learn to man
, age my temper better in tryin' times
which, according to present appear
ances. won't be any too soon."
| said some peddlers were enough
to try the patience of saint, an ther
, grew redder'n ever, because / wa,
afraid she'd think / meant was abov,
all SIGH, an an exception to 'em. Blu
: she didn't seem to take it that way
She laughed. an said there was ped